Tobacco looper



Sept. 13, 1960 c. M. SMITH I ,3

' TOBACCO LOOPER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 w i m 1 Q "3 q; i a3% 1x 1 1 N f o *0 1 C. M. Smith. S Q INVENTOR. N w 8 ep 1 1 c. M. SMITH2,952,371

' TOBACCO LOOPER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 6. M. Smith N IN VEN TOR.

Mad-9' Y M F C. M. SMITH TOBACCO LOOPER Sept. 13, 1960 Filed July 2,1956 6 Sheets-Shet 3 c. M. 3mm;

INVENTQR.

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" TOBACCO LOOPER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 S W gzl zs% C. M.SMITH TOBACCO LOOPER Sept. 13, 1960 Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR.

p 1 1960 c. M. SMITH 2,952,371

TOBACCO LOOFER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. /3

C. M. Smith INVENTOR.

BY wyzWFM L Patented Sept. 13, .1960

Fice TOBACCO LOOPER C. M. Smith, Yadkinville, N.C. Filed July 2, 1956,Ser. No. 595,237

16 Claims. (Cl. 214-55) This invention relates in general to new anduseful improvements in farm machinery, and more specifically to atobacco looper.

Although great strides have been made in recent years in mechanizingfarm equipment, tobacco, when picked in the Southern States, still mustbe bundled into hands and then manually tied upon a stick for curingpurposes. Inasmuch as the tobacco must be tied upon the sticks soonafter it is picked, it will be readily apparent that there is utilized alarge amount of labor at the time when such labor is required forharvesting the tobacco crop.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide animproved tobacco looper which is so constructed whereby it is merelynecessary to place hands or bunches of tobacco in the tobacco looper andthe tobacco looper will automatically tie the tobacco onto a tobaccostick.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobaccolooper which includes a needle and means for positioning tobaccorelative to the needle, there being provided suitable drive means formoving the needle in a figure eight pattern around tobacco so that atobacco retaining string is first looped about the tobacco on one sideof a tobacco stick and then looped about the tobacco on the oppositeside of a tobacco stick, the Weight of the tobacco retained in the loopsof the string being distributed on opposite sides of the stick and thusretaining itself in place on the stick.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobaccolooper which is automatic in operation, the tobacco looper beingprovided with means for advancing a tobacco stick therethrough, meansfor receiving tobacco fed therein positioning such tobacco on oppositesides of the tobacco stick and tobacco tying means operated in timedrelation to the movement of the tobacco stick and the position of thetobacco on opposite sides thereof for tying the tobacco to the tobaccostick.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved needleconstruction for looping a retaining string about the tobacco forretaining the tobacco on a tobacco stick, the needle constructionincluding a needle which is free floating and which is selectivelyengaged by needle carriers with the needle being transferred from oneneedle carrier to the other and being moved in a circular pattern byeach of the loop carriers whereby a figure 8 pattern is followed withthe needle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tobaccolooper which is so constructed whereby it may be mounted on an existingtobacco harvester for receiving tobacco from clips carried by theautomatic conveyor system of the tobacco harvester so that once thetobacco has been picked and placed into the clips of the tobaccoharvester, the tobacco is automatically elevated and moved into thetobacco looper where it is automatically tied to a tobacco stick.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a drive systemfor a tobacco looper which is so constructed whereby when tobacco isplaced into a tobacco receiving clip of a tobacco looper, the tobacco isautomatically swung into a position adjacent a tobacco stick, a needlebearing a tobacco tying string is looped about the tobacco and over thetobacco stick and the tobacco stick is advanced to make the tobaccotying string taut to hold the tobacco in place.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobaccolooper which includes means for positioning and tying tobacco onopposite sides of a tobacco stick, and means for advancing the tobaccostick intimed relation to the tying of the tobacco on opposite sidesthereof, the drive means for advancing the tobacco stick being soconstructed whereby as the end of a tobacco stick is approached, thetobacco stick is rapidly advanced in order to avoid any delays in thetying of tobacco on the next adjacent stick.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the tobacco looper which is thesubject of this invention and shows the general outline thereof;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the tobacco looper of Figure 1viewed from the opposite side thereof and shows further the detailsthereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the planeindicated by the section line 33 of Figure 2 andshows the details of thetobacco looper in the vicinity of the tobacco tying means thereof, therebeing illustrated the drive means for the needle and the tobaccopositioning means;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure3 and shows the specific details of the needle carriers and the mannerin which the needle is transferred from one needle carrier to the otherwhen moving through a figure 8 pattern;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 2 and showsfurther the specific details of the various drive means of the tobaccolooper;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of Figure 1 and showsmore specifically the details of the needle and the means for drivingthe needle through a figure 8 pattern;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of Figure 6 and showsfurther details of the needle and the manner in which it is mounted forfreedom of movement;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of Figure 7 and showsthe specific details of a one revolution clutch drive for one of theneedle carriers;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 99 of Figure 3 and showsthe specific relationship of the tobacco positioning means with respectto a tobacco stick;

Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of a tobacco receiving and retainingclip which is a part of the tobacco positioning means and shows thespecific details thereof;

Figure ll'is an enlarged side elevational view of the tobacco clip ofFigure 10 and shows further the details thereof;

Figure 12 is an end view of the tobacco of Figure 10;

holding clip Figure 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional viewtaken on the upper part of the tobacco looper and shows the manner inwhich tobacco sticks are advanced to the tobacco looper;

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken above the tobaccostick showing the manner in which tobacco is tied thereto, the needle ofthe tobacco looper being shown in section;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan view showing the relationship between atobacco conveyor and the tobacco positioning means of the tobacco looperwhereby tobacco may be automatically conveyed from a conveyor of atobacco harvester to the tobacco looper.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated the tobacco looper which is the subject of this invention,the tobacco looper being referred to in general by the reference numeral10. The tobacco looper includes a supporting frame which is referred toin general by the reference numeral 12.

The supporting frame 12 includes a pair of standards 14 and 16 whichextend upwardly at one end of the tobacco looper 10. The upper ends ofthe standards 14 and 16 are connected together by a transverse framemember 18. The standards 14 and 16 are also connected together adjacenttheir lower ends by a transverse frame member 20.

Connected to intermediate portions of the standards 14 and 16 arelongitudinally extending frame members 22 and 24, respectively. Theopposite ends of the frame members 22 and 24 are connected together by atransverse frame member 26, as is best illustrated in Figure 5.Extending between the frame members 22 and 24 is a mounting plate 28which has one edge thereof secured to the transverse frame member 26.Extending downwardly from the mounting plate 28 is a supporting leg 30which is centrally located.

Disposed in overlying relation to the frame members 22 and 24 andextending from the upper ends of the standards 14 and 16 are framemembers 32 and 34, respectively. The opposite ends of the frame members32 and 34 are supported by uprights 36 and 38 which extend upwardly fromintermediate portions of the frame members 22 and 24, respectively.Extending transversely between the upper ends of the uprights 36 and 38is a transverse frame member (not shown).

Extending upwardly from the transverse frame member 20 at spaced pointsintermediate the ends thereof are relatively short uprights 40 whichhave secured to their upper ends longitudinally extending legs 42 of aU-shaped frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral44. The legs 42 are connected by a transverse member 46. Extendingupwardly from the central part of the transverse member 46 is an upright48 which is disposed in longitudinal alignment with an upright 50 whichextends upwardly from the plate 28 in vertical alignment with thesupport 30. The uprights 48 and 50 support a tobacco stick guide 52.'The tobacco stick guide 52 extends to the right of the main portion ofthe supporting frame 12, as viewed in Figure 1, and is braced by adiagonal brace 54 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from thetransverse frame member 26, as is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 5.

Extending upwardly from each of the legs 42 is an upright 56 which isbraced by a diagonal brace 58, the opposite end of the diagonal brace 58being secured to the transverse frame member 20. Secured to the extremeupper end of each of the uprights 56 is a longitudinal support 60 whosepurpose will be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

Secured directly to the transverse frame member 20 at spaced intervalsintermediate the ends thereof are longitudinally extending hangersupports 62. The forward ends of the hanger supports 62are supported byshort uprights 64, as is best illustrated in Figure 1.

Secured to a corner of the mounting plate 28 and extending upwardlytherefrom in vertical alignment with the longitudinal frame member 24 isa support 66. The support 66 carries at the upper end thereof alongitudinally extending mounting plate 68 which is braced by a diagonalbrace 70.

Extending longitudinally from the upright is a support 72 having anupper surface disposed in substantially the same plane as the uppersurface of the supporting plate 68. The support 72 has the right handend thereof, as viewed in Figure 2, braced by a transverse member 74whose opposite end is supported by a sloping support 76, the lower endof the sloping support 76 being secured to the longitudinal frame member22.

Extending between the transverse frame member 18 and that transverseframe member which extends between the upper ends of the uprights 36 and38 is a plate 78 which is of a lesser width than the supporting frame12, the plate 78 being best illustrated in Figure 3. Carried by theplate 78 is a needle assembly which is referred to in general by thereference numeral 80.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 6 in particular, it will be seen that theneedle assembly 80 includes a pair of tubular housings 82 and 84 whichextend above and below the plate 78 and which are supported thereby. Thetubular housings 82 and 84 are disposed in overlapping relation, as isbest illustrated in Figure 4, so as to form a single generally figure 8shaped housing. Positioned in the tubular housing 82 is a needle carrierwhich is referred to in general by the reference numeral 86. A similarneedle carrier 88 is positioned in the tubular housing 84. The needlecarrier 86 includes a shaft 90 having secured to the lower end thereof agenerally circular needle carrying plate 92 and to an intermediateportion thereof a similar needle carrying plate 94. The needle carryingplates 92 and 94 are spaced apart a distance equal to generally theheight of the tubular housing 82 and are disposed therein for guidedmovement relative thereto.

The needle carrier 88 also includes a shaft 96 and a pair of needlecarrying plates 98 and 100. The needle carrying plates 98 and 100 arevery similar to the needle 4 carrying plates 92 and 94 and are disposedwithin the tubular housing 84 in guided relation.

Extending upwardly from theplate 78 in overlying relation to the tubularhousings 82 and 84 is a mounting bracket 102. A similar mounting bracket104 is disposed vertically above the mounting bracket 102. The shaftsand 96 extend upwardly through the mounting brackets 102 and 104 and aresuitably journaled therein for rotation.

Carried by the upper part of the shaft 90 is a gear 106 which has a hubportion 108 extending upwardly thereabove. The hub portion 108 isprovided with a bevel gear 110 which is meshed with a bevel drive gear112. The bevel drive gear 112 is carried by a horizontal shaft 114 whichis suitably journaled in a pair of pillow blocks 116 carried by uprights118 secured to the plate 78, as is best illustrated in Figure 3.Disposed intermediate the pillow blocks 116 and mounted on the'shaft 114is a sprocket 120 for facilitating the driving shaft 114.

In order that the shaft 96 may be rotated, there is provided -a gear 122which is in constant mesh with the gear 106. It is to be understood thatthe gears 106 and 120 are freely rotatable on the shafts 90 and 96 andcontinuously rotate during the operation of the tobacco looper 10.

In order that the gears 106 and 122 may be continuously driven, there ismounting on the plate 28 an electric motor 124. The electric motor 124is provided with a drive sprocket 126 which is aligned with a sprocket128. The sprocket 128 is mounted on a transverse idler shaft 130 whichis suitably journaled in a pillow block 132 carried by the support 72and a pillow block 134 carried by 'the support plate 68. Entrained overthe'sprockets 126 and 128 and drivingly connecting it to the other isadrive chain 136.

Disposed to the right of the idler shaft 130, as viewed in Figure 2, isa shaft 138 which has one end thereof journaled in a pillow block 140supported on the support 72 and the opposite end thereof journalled in apillow block 142 mounted on the support plate 68. The shaft 138 isprovided with a sprocket 144 which is aligned with a sprocket 146connected to the sprocket 128. Entrained over the sprockets 144 and 146and drivingly connecting the two together is a drive chain 148.

Mounted on the shaft 138 and connected to the sprocket 144 for rotationtherewith is a sprocket 150. The sprocket 150 is longitudinally alignedwith the sprocket 120 and is connected thereto by a drive chain 152entrained over the two sprockets. The intermediate portions of the drivechain 152 pass over a roller 154 which is suitably supported by thetransverse frame member which extends between the uprights 36 and 38.Thus the shaft 114 is continuously driven to continuously rotate thegears 106 and 122.

Referring once again to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that thegear 106 is part of a one revolution clutch assembly which is referredto in general by the reference numeral 156. The clutch assembly 156includes a clutch plate 158 which directly underlies the gear 106 andwhich has a hub 160 secured to the shaft 90 by means of a set screw 162.The gear 106 has a hub 164 which rests upon the clutch plate 158 andsupports the gear 106 against vertical movement. Carried by theunderside of the gear 106 is 21 depending drive pin 166.

The clutch plate 158 is cut-away as at 168 and has pivotally connectedthereto a dog 170 with a depending finger 172, the dog 170 beingconnected to the clutch plate or clutch disk 158 by means of a pivot pin174. The dog 170 is normally urged inwardly to an operative position bya spring 176 which has one end anchored to the clutch plate 158 and theother end anchored to the dog 170.

Engaged with the finger 172 and normally retaining the dog 170 in aninoperative position is a latch member 178.

The gear 122 is part of a clutch assembly which is referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 180. The clutch assembly 180 isidentical with the clutch assembly 156 with the exception of being ofthe opposite hand.

The clutch assembly 180 includes a clutch plate 182 having a hub 184secured on the shaft 96 for rotation therewith by a setscrew 186. Thegear 122 includes a hub 188 which rest upon the clutch plate 182 toposition the gear 122 on the shaft 96.

As is best illustrated in Figure 8, the clutch plate 182 is providedwith a generally V-shaped notch 1% in the periphery thereof. Pivotallyconnected to the upper surface of the clutch plate 82 by means of apivot pin 192 is a dog 194. The dog 194- is urged inwardly by means of aspring 196 which has one end thereof anchored to the clutch plate as at198 and the other end to the dog 194.

Secured to the underside of the gear 122 and depending therefrom is adrive pin 200. The drive pin 200 is disposed in the path where it willengage a hook portion 202 of the dog 194 when the dog 194 is in anoperative position. However, the dog 194 is normally retained in aninoperative position by a latch member 284 which normally projects intothe general area of the notch 198 and behind a finger 206 which dependsfrom the dog 194.

It will be readily apparent that when the latch 178 is in an inoperativeposition, a shaft 90 Will be driven to drive the needle carrier 86. Onthe other hand, when the latch 204 is depressed, the shaft 96 will bedriven to drive the needle carrier 88.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that the needlecarrying plate 92 is cut away as at 208 to provide clearance for theneedle carrying plate 98. The

1 clearance for the "needle carrying plate 92. The needle carryingplates 94 and 100 are similarly configurated.

The needle carrying plate 92 is also provided with a notch 212. Asimilar notch 214 is formed in the needle carrying plate 98. The needlecarrying plates 94 and 180 are provided with similar notches.

Carried by the transverse frame member 18 is a suitable guide 216. Theguide 216 has mounted therein for longitudinal movement a horizontalportion 218 of'a needle which is referred to in general by the referencenumeral 228. The needle 220 also includes a Vertical portion 222 whichhas connected thereto intermediate its ends the horizontal portion 218,the interior of the needle portions 218 and 228 the two beingcommunicated, as is best illustrated in Figure 7. The needle 220 isfurther supported by a guide strap 223 secured to the underside of theplate 78 and supporting the horizontal portion 218, as is bestillustrated in Figure 7.

It is to be noted that the needle 220 is so mounted whereby the verticalportion 222 has the upper part thereof extending upwardly into the areadefined by the tubular housings 82 and 84. In Figure 4 the verticalportion 222 is illustrated as being disposed within the notch 212.

. The needle carrier 86 has just received the vertical portion 222 andis in the process of moving it about a circular path. It is to beunderstood that the needle carrier 86 will be rotated at singlerevolution and then will then stop in the position of the needle carrier88 illustrated in Figure 4.

Once the needle carrier 86 has moved the vertical portion 222 through acomplete circle, movement thereof will stop. When the needle carrier 88is next actuated, as it rotates, the plates 98 and 108 will pick up thevertical portion 222 and the notches 214 and move the vertical portion222 in a second circular path, the two circular paths slightlyoverlapping and the direction of movement being opposite so that thevertical portion 222 of the needle 220 is moved through a figure 8pattern.

In order that the vertical portion 222 will be retained in the notches212 and 214, the horizontal portion 218 is provided with a spring 224.The spring 224 bears at one end against the guide 216 and the oppositebears against the stop 226 carried by the horizontal portion 218.

The forward end of the horizontal portion 218 is open and will have pasttherein string 228 from a suitable spool (not shown). The string 228 isintended for use in tying tobacco to a tobacco stick and will be underthe proper tension, the tension being applied in a manner similar tothat of a normal sewing machine.

Referring now to Figure 14 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated the ultimate product of the tobacco looper 10. This includesa conventional tobacco stick 230which has disposed on opposite sidesthereof bunches of hands of tobacco 232. The tobacco 232 is staggeredand has looped thereabout a part of the string 228, the string 228 beinglooped about the bunch or hand of tobacco 232 by the figure 8 motion ofthe vertical portion 222 of the needle 228. It is to be understood thatthe string 228 is torn, one end thereof being anchored with respect tothe end of a tobacco stick 230 and that the weight of the tobacco 232disposed on opposite sides of the tobacco stick 238 will retain thetobacco in place.

It has been described above how the vertical portion 222 of the needle220 will move through a figure 8 pattern. It is necessary to move thetobacco stick 230 relative to the needle 220 in timed relation theretoand at the same time to position the tobacco 232 on opposite sides ofthe tobacco stick 238 so that the string 228 may i be looped thereaboutwhen the vertical portion 222 of needle carrying plate is cut away as at210 to provide the needle 228 moves to its figure 8 pattern.

The shafts 98 and 96 are transversely spaced and the vertical portion222 of the needle 220 is aligned with a tobacco stick support 52.Suitably mounted at one side of the tobacco support 52 are horizontallydisposedpillow blocks'234 and 236. The pillow block 234 carries '7 anidler shaft 238 supporting an idler sprocket 240. A drive shaft 242 hasthe upper end thereof suitably journaled in the pillow block 236 and hasthe extreme upper end thereof provided with a drive sprocket 244. Thedrive sprocket 244 is aligned with the idler sprocket 240 and entrainedover the two is a conveyor chain 246.

Referring now to Figure 13 in particular, it will be seen that theconveyor chain 242 is provided with a drivlug 248 which is engageablewith an end of a tobacco stick 230 for advancing the same along thetobacco stick guide 52 and beneath the vertical portion 222 of theneedle 220.

In order that the tobacco stick 230 may be automatically fed into thetobacco looper 10, there is secured to the tobacco guide 52 in racks 250for receiving tobacco sticks 230 in a vertical stack. As each tobaccostick 230 is moved out beneath the stack, the next tobacco stick willthen move down for engagement with the driving lug 248.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 5 in particular, it will be seen that thelower end of the drive shaft 242 is rotatably journaled in a suitablepillow block 252 carried by the transverse member 46. The lower end ofthe drive shaft 242 is provided with a ring gear 254.

The ring gear 254 overlies a transverse shaft 256 who'se opposite endsare suitably journaled in pillow blocks 258 secured to the underside ofthe frame members 22 and 24. Carried by the intermediate portion of thedrive shaft 256 is a pinion gear 260 which is disposed in meshedengagement with the ring gear 254.

Also extending between the longitudinal frame members 22 and 24 is ashaft 262. The shaft 262 has the opposite ends thereof suitablyjournaled in pillow blocks 264 secured to the upper surfaces of thelongitudinal frame members 22 and 24. The shaft 262 is a continuouslydriven shaft and is provided with a sprocket 266. The sprocket 266 isaligned with a sprocket 268 on the shaft 138. Entrained over thesprockets 266 and 268 is a drive chain 270.

Rotatably journaled on the shaft 262 is a sprocket 272 which is alignedwith the sprocket 274 secured to the shaft 256. Entrained over thesprockets 272 and 274 is a drive chain 276. The sprocket 272 isselectively connected to the shaft 262 for driving thereby by a onerevolution clutch assembly which is referred to in general by referencenumeral 27 8, the one revolution clutch assembly 278 being identicalwith the clutch assemblies 156 and 180. Further explanation of theclutch assembly 278 is believed to be unnecessary with the exception ofthe statement that a drive wheel 280 thereof is externally notched andhas engaged therewith a dog 282 carried by a mounting bracket 284mounted on the plate 28. The dog 282 prevents reverse rotation of thedrive wheel 280, the drive wheel 280 being rigidly secured to the shaft262 for rotation therewith.

Supported by the legs 62 are pillow blocks 286 which support atransverse shaft 288. The shaft 288 is prdvided with a sprocket 298which is aligned with the sprocket 292 carried by the shaft 262.Entrained over the sprockets 290 and 292 and connecting the two togetheris a drive chain 294. Carried by the transverse member 46 is a roller296 which engages the top mug of the drive chain 294 to permit it toclear the transverse member 46.

The sprocket 292 is normally stationary with the shaft 262 rotatedtherethrough. In order to control rotation of the sprocket 292, there isprovided with a one revolution clutch assembly 298. The clutch assembly298 is identical with the clutch assembly 156 and 180.

The operation of the clutch assembly 298 is controlled by a latch 308which has connected thereto a lever 302. The lever 302 is in turnconnected to a shaft 304 Whose opposite end is connected to a plungershaft 306 of an electrode device 308.

Carried by the legs 42 are horizontally disposed pillow blocks 310. Thepillow blocks 310 are vertically aligned with pillow blocks 312 carriedby the support 60. Journaled in the pillow blocks 310 and 312 arevertical shafts 314 and 316. The vertical shafts 314 and 316 havemounted at the lower ends thereof ring gears 318 which are in meshengagement with pinion gears 320 carried by opposite ends of the shaft288. It is to be noted that the arrangement of the gears are such thatthe shafts 314 and 316 rotate in opposite directions.

Secured to the upper end of the shaft 314 is a rotating support 322. Asimilar rotating support 324 is secured to the upper end of the shaft316. The rotating supports 322 and 324 are provided with projections 326and 328 carrying a tobacco receiving and retaining clip 330 and 332,respectively. It is to be noted that the rotating supports 322 and 324are disposed out of phase with respect to one another.

The rotating support 322 includes an upwardly projecting cam 334. Therotating support 324 includes a similar cam 336.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the latch204 is pivotally mounted on an upstanding bracket 338 carried by theplate 78. Depending from the plate 78 is a tube 340 in which there ismounted for vertical reicprocation a rod 342. The rod 342 is provided atits upper end with an offset portion 344 which is engageable with thelatch 284 to pivot it to an inoperative position. As the rotatingsupport 322 rotates, the cam 334 thereof will engage the lower end ofthe rod 342 and move upwardly to pivot the latch 204 to an inoperativeposition so that the clutch assembly 162. may operate to drive theneedle carrier 88.

The latch 17 8 is pivotally mounted on a support bracket 346 and isengaged by an offset portion 348 of a rod 350 mounted in a sleeve 352.The foregoing parts being identical with the parts operating the latch204. A rod 350 is engaged by the cam 336 of the rotating supics gt 324to effect the operation of the clutch assembly Referring once again toFigure 5 in particular, it will be seen that the shaft 288 is providedwith a lug 354 which is engageable with a projecting end of a rod 356.The rod 356 is connected by means of the universal joint 358 to a lever360 which is pivotally mounted on extension 362 of the mounting plate28. The opposite end of the lever 360 has carried thereby a latch 364for the clutch assembly 278.

Depending from the plate 78 and secured to a strap 60 is a suitableguard assembly 366 for tobacco passing through the tobacco looper. Thereis also illustrated in Figure 3 suitable supports 368 which depend fromouter edges of the plate 78 and which carry spring loaded switches 370having operators 372 and 374. The operators 372 and 3-74 are sopositioned whereby they overlie the clips 330 and 332 when they are intobacco receiving positions. The switches 370 are connected to theelectro-magnetic device 308 for energizing the same, there beingprovided a suitable power source in the circuit.

Assuming the rotating supports 322 and 32.4 to be in the position asillustrated in Figures 3 and 9. The clip 332 is ready for receivingtobacco. The tobacco is manually placed in the clip 332 at which timethe operator 374 of its respective switch 370 is moved so as to energizethe electro-magnetic device 338. The electro-magnetic device 308 thenoperates the clutch assembly 298 to drive the shaft 288 which in turndrives the rotating supports 322 and 324. The ratio of drive is suchthat the rotating supports 322 and 324 are rotated only one-half of arevolution from the solid line positions of Figure 9 to the dotted linepositions of the same figure. As the shaft 288 rotates, the lug 354causes movement of the linkage for the control of latch 364 with theresult that the clutch assembly 278 is actuated at the proper timeinterval and the shaft 256 is rotated to drive the conveyor chain 246.The conveyor chain 246 will then advance a tobacco stick, such as thetobacco stick 230 the necessary distance.

As the rotating support 324 rotates, the cam 336 thereof will result inthe movement of the latch178 to an inneedle 220 about the tobacco 232carried by the clip 324-.

The foregoing is a half cycle for the tobacco looper 10. The cycle iscompleted by placing tobacco in the clip 332 with the tobacco 232 beingcarried inwardly to the opposite side of the tobacco stick 230 andhaving the string 228 looped thereabout by the actuation of the clutchassembly 180. The process is repeated until the desired number ofbunches or hands of tobacco 232 are tied onto the tobacco stick 230.

It is to be appreciated that inasmuch as the tobacco sticks 230 mustrest upon suitable supports, the tobacco 232 cannot be tied from one endof the tobacco stick 230 to the other, but that a suitable space must beleft at each end of the tobacco stick 230. In order to provide for thisand at the same time not disrupt the automatic operation of the tobaccolooper 10, there is provided a second drive for the shaft 256. Thissecond drive includes a sprocket 371 secured to the shaft 256 and asprocket 3-73 rotatably journaled on the shaft 262. Carried by the shaft262 is a clutch assembly 375 which is identical to the other clutchassemblies. It is to be noted that the ratio of drive between the shaft262 and the shaft 256 between the sprockets 371 and 373 is such that theshaft 256 is rapidly rotated. The sprockets 371 and 373 are connectedtogether by a driver chain 376.

In order to control the operation of the clutch assembly 3 74 at theproper time interval, there is depending from the legs 62 suitablehangers 3-78 carrying a shaft 380 on which there is mounted a relativelylarge gear or sprocket 382. Carried by the shaft 288 is a pin 384 whichis engaged with the teeth of the gear 382 so that the gear 382 isadvanced one tooth each revolution of the shaft 288.

Extending from one side of the gear 382 is a drive pin 386 which isengageable with a rod 388 whose opposite end is connected to a lever 390pivotally mounted on the extension 392 of the mounting plate 98. Thelever 3-90 is connected to a latch 394 of the clutch assembly 374.

Referring now to Figures 10, 11 and 12, in particular, it will be seenthat there is illustrated the details of one of the clips, the clipbeing the clip 332. The clip 332 made in two halves 396 and 398 havinghubs 400 and 402 disposed in overlying relation and connected togetherby a pivot pin 404. The halves 396 and 398 include elongated legs 406and 408', respectively, the leg 406 being shorter than the leg 408 forthe purposes of clearance. Extending around the legs 406 and 408 isacontinuous spring 410 which normally urges the legs 406 and 408together.

It is to be noted that the outer ends of the legs 406 and 408 flare soas to facilitate the positioning of tobacco between the legs 306 and408. The spring 410 resiliently clamps the legs 406 and 408 about thetobacco disposed therebetween so that the clips 330 and 332 releasablyhold the tobacco during the typing operation and will release thetobacco as the tobacco stick 230 advances relative to the clips 330 and332.

The tobacco looper in the form described above is intended for manualfeeding and may be mounted in a bar or some other suitable place thetobacco is brought for tying on the tobacco sticks 230. However, at thepresent time there are being manufactured tobacco harvesters which useconveyor chains and clips for elevating the tobacco immediately afterbeing harvested. The tobacco looper 10 may be mounted on such tobaccoharvesters for receiving tobacco directly from the conveyors thereof andfor automatically tying such tobacco onto tobacco sticks so that theonly manual operation in the harvesting is the actual picking of thetobacco and placing it on the con veyors.

Referring now toFigure 15 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated a conveyor 412 of the con ventional tobacco harvester.Carried by the conveyor 412 is a plurality of clips 414 which areidentical to the clips 330 and 332 although the legs thereof may be ofthe same length if desired. Also illustrated is the rotating support 324which has a clip 416 mounted thereon in a slightly different positionfrom the posit-ion of the clip 332. The change in position of the clip416 is due to the relationship between the conveyor 412 and the rotatingsupport 324 as compared to its normal position for hand loading. Also,it may be necessary to move the positions of the switches 370 so thatthe switches 370 will be operated by movement of the tobacco from theclips 414 into the clip 416. It is to be understood that the rotatingsupport 322 will be provided with a clip substantially identical to theclip 416 and that a conveyor similar to the conveyor 412 will beprovided for rotating the support 322.

As the conveyor 412 advances toward the rotating support 324, tobacco232 carried by the clip 414 will enter into the clip 416 and be releasedfrom the clip 414. The tobacco 232 will then operate the switch 370 tostant the normal operation of the tobacco looper 10 in the mannerdescribed above.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the tobacco looper10 may be conveniently mounted on conventional tobacco harvesters with aminimum of change in the structure thereof. If mounted on a tobaccoharvester, the electric motor 124 may be replaced and the tobacco looper10 may be driven from the engine or other power unit of the tobaccoharvester by suitable drive means.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spacedneedle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation wherebyeach needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern.

2. A tobacco looper comprising a .needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spacedneedle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation wherebyeach needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, means onsaid needle carriers for transferring said needle from one of saidneedle carriers to the other of said needle carriers and back againwhereby said figure eight pattern is continuously repeated.

3. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spacedneedle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation wherebyeach needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, separatedrive means for each of said needle carriers, control means for each ofsaid separate drive means for alternatingly driving said needlecarriers.

' means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transversefigure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobaccolongitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timedrelation tomovement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising apair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers beingmounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in acircular pattern, separate 7 drive means for each of said needlecarriers, control means for said separate drive means operative in response to the placing of tobacco in said tobacco positioning means.

6. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spacedneedle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation wherebyeach needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, separatedrive means for each of said needle carriers, control means for each ofsaid separate drive means for alternatingly driving said needlecarriers, said separate drive means each including a continuouslyrotating drive member, a driven member connected to each of said needlecarriers, and a clutch for selectively connecting each of said drivemembers to a respective one of said driven members.

7. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eightpat-tern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobaccolongitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timedrelation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprisinga pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriersbeing mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needlein a circular pattern, separate drive means for each of said needlecarriers, control means for each of said separate drive means foralternatingly driving said needle carriers, said separate drive meanseach including a continuously r0.- tating drive member, a driven memberconnected to each of said needle carriers, and a clutch for selectivelyconnecting each of said drive members to a respective one of said drivenmembers, said clutches being of the one revolution type.

8. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spacedneedle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation wherebyeach needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, separatedrive means for each of said needle carriers, control means for each ofsaid separate drive means for alternatingly driving said needlecarriers, said separate drive means each including a continuouslyrotating drive member, a driven member connected to each of said needlecarriers, and a clutch for selectively connecting each of said drivemembers to a respective one of said driven members, said control meansincluding clutch operating linkage and means on said tobacco positioningmeans engageable with said clutch operating linkage for operating saidclutches in response to operation of said tobacco positioning means.

9. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said tobacco positioning means including a pair of transverselyspaced rotating supports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each ofsaid supports, said tobacco supporting clips being mounted on saidrotating supports in out of phase relation.

110. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said tobacco positioning means including a pair of transverselyspaced rotating supports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each ofsaid supports, drive means for said rotating supports for rotating saidrotating supports one half a revolution in response to positioning oftobacco in one of said tobacco supporting clips.

11. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spacedneedle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation wherebyeach needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, saidtobacco positioning means including a pair of transversely spacedrotating supports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each of saidsupports.

12. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle dnive means engagingsaid needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern,and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relativeto said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spacedneedle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation wherebyeach needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, saidtobacco positioning means including a pair of transversely spacedrotating suports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each of saidsupports, means on said rotating supports for operating said needledrive means in response to rotation of said rotating supports. 1

13. In a tobacco looper, a needle for looping string about hands oftobacco on alternately opposite sides of a longitudinally advancingtobacco stick and for maintaining the string substantially taut duringsuch wrapping operation, necdle drive means engaging said needle formoving said needle in the same general direction as that of saidlongitudinal advancement of said tobacco stick alternately in circularpaths on opposite sides of the centerline of the associated tobaccostick and substantially tangential thereof whereby the paths are ofsmall diameter to correspond closely to the diameter of that portion ofa tobacco hand being Wrapped and substantially obviating the formationof slack in the string.

14. In a tobacco looper, a needle for looping string about hands oftobacco on alternatingly opposite sides of 'a longitudinally advancingtobacco stick and for maintaining the string substantially taut duringsuch wrapping openation, needle drive means engaging said needle formoving said needle alternately in circular paths from opposite sides ofthe centerline of the associated tobacco stick and substantiallytangential thereof whereby the paths are of small diameter to correspondclosely to the diameter of that portion of a tobacco hand being wrappedand substantially obviating the formation of slack in the string, saidneedle drive means comprising 13 a pair of transversely spaced needlecarriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby eachneedle carrier moves said needle in a circular path.

15. In a tobacco looper, a needle for looping string about hands oftobacco on alternately opposite sides of a longitudinally advancingtobacco stick and for maintaining the string substantially taut duringsuch wrapping operation, needle drive means engaging said needle formoving said needle in the same general direction as that of saidlongitudinal advancement of said tobacco stick alternately in circularpaths from opposite sides of the centerline of the associated tobaccostick and substantially tangential thereof whereby the paths are ofsmall diameter to correspond closely to the diameter of that portion of-a tobacco hand being Wrapped and substantially obviating the formationof slack in the string, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobaccorelative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation tomovement of said needle, said needle drive means including control meansoperative in response to the placing of the tobacco in said tobaccopositioning means.

16. In a tobacco looper, a needle for looping string about hands oftobacco on alternatingly opposite sides of a longitudinally advancingtobacco stick and for maintaining the string substantially taut duringsuch wrapping operation, needle drive means engaging said needle formoving said needle alternately in circular paths from opposite sides ofthe centerline of the associated tobacco stick and substantiallytangential thereof whereby the paths are of small diameter to correspondclosely to the diameter of that pontion of a tobacco hand being Wrappedand substantially obviating the formation of slack in the string, andtobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative tosaid needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of saidneedle, said tobacco positioning means including a pair of transverselyspaced rotatable supports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each ofsaid supports, said tobacco supporting clips being mounted on saidrotating support in out of phase relation to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,697,220 Anstiss Jan. 1, 1929 2,327,252 Dickerson Aug. 17, 19432,538,698 McNeill Jan. 16, 1951 2,564,614 Sowers Aug. 14, 1951 2,704,158Long Mar. 15, 1955 2,776,760 Covi-ngton Ian. 8, 1957

